Galway footballers bombing along but hurlers run into choppy waters
Inside Track with John McIntyre
On the weekend’s evidence, the Galway footballers are primed for another protracted championship campaign, but the county’s hurlers could soon be put into cold storage based on their dismal effort against Kilkenny at Nowlan Park on Saturday.
We had been a little concerned about the footballers after their flat conclusion to the National League and with Damien Comer and Shane Walsh not starting against Roscommon at Pearse Stadium on Sunday, the result was hardly a foregone conclusion, especially given that Davy Burke’s team have a decent recent record at the venue.
Instead, Galway qualified for a tenth consecutive Connacht Final with little duress. The Rossies may have stayed with them in the opening 20 minutes, but once Matthew Tierney found the net from close range after a Seán Kelly point effort rebounded off the posts, the outcome was never in doubt.
Though the Murtagh brothers and Ben O’Carroll remained a threat up front, Roscommon were very average out the field. Their defence coughed up scores too cheaply while they were hammered on the kick-outs. Galway ruled the skies with Cian D’Arcy having a stormer in that regard.
Roscommon’s marking was shocking as underlined by hardly laying a glove on Rob Finnerty, who picked off six points from play. Overall, there was a great vibrancy about Galway’s performance and their experience showed when exhibiting no shortage of patience in creating scoring opportunities.
Players like Dylan McHugh, Liam Silke, Paul Conroy – who picked off a brace of trademark two-pointers – the tireless John Maher, Kelly and a back-to-form Cillian McDaid were all too classy for Roscommon to handle, while Seán Mulkerrin did a terrific policing job on the subdued Enda Smith.
Galway shaped like a quality side and with big championship contenders, Kerry and Donegal, both having their weekend troubles against Cork – how unlucky were the Rebels not to win – and a gallant Monaghan respectively, Padraic Joyce’s team have shot up the All-Ireland pecking order again.
Unfortunately, we can’t say the same thing about the hurlers who suffered a bad beating against Kilkenny in the first round of the Leinster title race. Alarm bells were ringing after the chosen fifteen became public, but few supporters thought they would end up so far adrift of the Cats, particularly after a positive start.
Pictured: Galway's Matthew Thompson comes under strong pressure from Roscommon's David Murray during the Connacht Senior Football semi-final at Pearse Staduium on Sunday. Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy.